789 government troops killed in East Ukraine since April

A total of 789 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the government's military operations against insurgents in eastern regions began in mid-April.

Andrei Lysenko, spokesman from the National Security and Defense Council, said at least 2,789 Ukrainian servicemen were injured in the conflict, Xinhua news agency reports.

Ten Ukrainian soldiers have died and 30 wounded during clashes with insurgents in the last 24 hours.

Ukraine's military launched an offensive against insurgents to regain control of seized cities and towns more than four months ago.

Government forces claimed major progress in its effort to retake insurgent-seized areas in mid-August.

Ukrainian forces appeared to have been losing ground in recent weeks as the conflict area expanded to a new section of the country's territory in Donetsk region.

UN estimates showed the conflict has left more than 2,500 people dead.